User profile for user: bleen18
bleen18 Author
User level: Level 1
16 points

controlling volume with ios remote only works sometimes

I have an AppleTV 4k and an iphone 14 pro…


Sometimes i use the remote app on my iphone and i’m able to use the physical volume buttons on my phone to adjust the appletv volume from the remote app on my phone and other times those buttons do nothing. I have confirmed that i am controlling the correct AppleTV (and the other non-volume controls always work) and i can’t descern any pattern about when it works and when it doesn’t.


iOS and TVos are definitely up to date… restarting makes no difference


Ideas??

Apple TV HD, tvOS 15

Posted on Feb 17, 2023 4:31 PM

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User profile for user: bgmeek
bgmeek
User level: Level 4
1,249 points

Posted on Mar 3, 2023 9:23 PM

In order for the vol control to work on the iOS remote, the ATV4K device MUST be able to control the [soundbar | AVR ] volume using HDMI's CEC standard (signals sent from the ATV4K via HDMI). For some reason, TVs' [internal speaker] volume is rarely if ever controlled via CEC (meant for HDMI-connected audio devices). As far as I know, if you're always listening to the TV speakers, the iOS remote will NEVER work for volume control, and the ATV remote will only control TV volume via IR.


My theory is that your turn on sequence/method failed to turn on the audio device [a soundbar or AVR] that should be reacting to CEC volume adjust signals - or maybe the turn-on sequence prevented the ATV4K from learning that some HDMI device other than the TV itself is responsible for audio volume.


Pretty long winded but hopefully you get the gist.

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User profile for user: bgmeek
bgmeek
User level: Level 4
1,249 points

Mar 3, 2023 9:23 PM in response to bleen18

In order for the vol control to work on the iOS remote, the ATV4K device MUST be able to control the [soundbar | AVR ] volume using HDMI's CEC standard (signals sent from the ATV4K via HDMI). For some reason, TVs' [internal speaker] volume is rarely if ever controlled via CEC (meant for HDMI-connected audio devices). As far as I know, if you're always listening to the TV speakers, the iOS remote will NEVER work for volume control, and the ATV remote will only control TV volume via IR.


My theory is that your turn on sequence/method failed to turn on the audio device [a soundbar or AVR] that should be reacting to CEC volume adjust signals - or maybe the turn-on sequence prevented the ATV4K from learning that some HDMI device other than the TV itself is responsible for audio volume.


Pretty long winded but hopefully you get the gist.

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User profile for user: bleen18
bleen18 Author
User level: Level 1
16 points

Mar 4, 2023 5:19 AM in response to bgmeek

I have 3 ATV4K in my house and only one TV has a soundbar (connected to ATV via HDMI).


My original post was referring to the tv with the sound bar and i can confidently say that the sound bar is ALWAYS being used no matter how i turn on the TV (or in what order) so i don’t think that is the issue.


Additionally, the other two tvs (with no sound bar or external speakers at all) have the identical issue, however if i use the ATV remote to turn them on I am more likely (though not guaranteed) to be able to control the volume with my iphone then i am with the tv that has a sound bar.






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controlling volume with ios remote only works sometimes

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